Abortion Access Update Post-Roe Overturn

A recent report has indicated that the number of women accessing abortion care continues to rise, despite state bans, since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs that overturned Roe v. Wade. This increase is particularly evident in 2024, with around 1.14 million abortions performed by licensed clinicians across the U.S., compared to 1.06 million in the previous year.

This report was released just a day shy of the third anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, which effectively ended nearly five decades of constitutional protections for abortion rights. The #WeCount project has been tracking abortion statistics since the overturn in 2022, though it’s important to note that their 2022 data does not encompass the first quarter of the year.

A significant portion of abortion care still occurs in traditional clinics, even as many states enforce strict bans. Interestingly, the use of medication for abortions, particularly through Telehealth, has seen a surge since April 2022, now accounting for about 25% of all procedures. Prior to the Dobbs ruling, Telehealth was utilized for around one in every 20 abortions.

Roughly half of the Telehealth abortions last year benefited from various Shield Acts in democratically controlled states. These Shield Acts are designed to protect healthcare providers and others from investigations that may arise from out-of-state procedures related to abortion and gender-affirming care.

By the end of 2024, the average number of abortions conducted monthly under these Shield Acts reached approximately 12,330.

The findings suggest that even with the bans in place, individuals are still seeking abortion services, according to Allison Norris, co-chair and a professor at Ohio State University’s College of Public Health. “As care moves beyond state lines and into Telehealth, we are witnessing a complex system where access can vary greatly based on location, financial resources, and other barriers,” Norris noted.